The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-28
Managed.

ami staring into vacancy, was anything
but the picture OF happiness. But then
the course of true love know, never did
run smooth, and this case was not an ex
ception.
LOttie, of course, was the sole cause of
all the trouble The course of true love
would run without ripple If Miss Lot
tie wouldn't tell Raymond that this, that
or the other man was just too hand
some :" any girls fancy perfectly
| splendid" Raymond WAS just now treated
to some such information, which ac-
counts for the feroeiOus tugging at his
musfache.
Lottle Charteris was pretty, plump.
and petite. She always received consid-
erabIe attention from the opposite sex.
This, we are afraid made Lottie little
vain. She loved Raymond Ives. but she
did enjoy making him jealous. She had
propensity for flirting, and she thought
the more attention she received from
Others the more Raymond Ives would
love her
can't stand it any longer said
/ Raymond to himself, as he stood and
stared out OF the window. wonder
how it would work if two played at the
same game"
al think Clara Lewis is so graceful, {"
said Raymond next day to Lottie She
was Walking on before me this morning
and couldn't help admiring her, but
then your tall ladies' always look graceful
they show whatever they ar to such
good advantage"
Raymond spoke as if in thoughtful
mood, AMI Little looked up at him with
surprise, that she could not hide, though
she smiled and said lightly
Well, what has come over the spirit
of your dreams2 | thought you never
saw any beauty in till people ?"
e. You thought 50? That's strange
am sure the man must be blind that
would fail to discern that Clara Lewis is
a handsome girl
"Oh believe in the old saying. said
Lottie, with something like an indignant
toss Of the head, the most precious
goods are done up in small parcels f"
And how about the poison? Do you
believe that. too p asked Raymond
Well. poison is very expensive to, say
the least-anyway. never could see
anything nice in being tall Take Aow-
ers, and the most beautiful grow near the
ground it is only the weeds and all that
are very coarse and common that shoot
up
That's queer" said Raymond, quiet
"; " II wis only yesterday that yon
were going into ecstacies telling me that
Charlie Dalton was so tall and 50 hand
some
Just as Raymond finished speaking,
Clara Lewis came in. Clara was Lottie's
companion from childhood up, and per
haps to-day was the first time in Lottie's
life that she was not glad to see her old
friend
Was Raymond very attentive to Clara.
Or WAS it all imagination ons Lottie's
part?
Lottie couldn't tell. She only knew
she felt i'll at ease about something, and
when she found herself alone she stood
before the glass, surveying herself and
wondered if it wouldn't add to her at
fractions to have few inches added to
her height No mistake about it. Clara
always did look well, Lotte thought, and
somehow she appeared some smaller in
her own eyes to-day than ever she did
before
A few evenings after, there were some
friends assembled in L0ttie's parlor
Raymond was very attentive 70 Clara
Lewis, until Miss Powers, still hand
somer girl than Clara made her appear
ance
When Mis- Powers was at the pian),
Raymond was beside her turning her
music, Lottie could hardly credit what
she saw. Raymond Ives vas flirting with
every pretty girl he came across, and she
felt wretched.
Charlie Dalton. iaIl and handsome,
was present but Lottie had no heart to
frt with hin she had eyes for no one
in the room but Raymond She thought
his eonluct was seandalous-cruel HIS
heart had changed toward her-he loved
her no longer.
That night LOttie h I'd a good cry in
her own noon. Raymond loved her no
longer And tomorrow, though she
knew it would kill her to do it. just as
surely as the sun rose she would give
him back the engagement ring
Raymond came next day, and found
Lottie alone. She scarcely noticed him
when he entered the room. She WAS
very white, very quiet, anil looked every
where but at him. He crossed over to
where she was sitting, witt. an amused
expression of countenance.
"Why 50 pensive, Lottie ?"
Lottie dil not answer, but her lips
quivered, her eye lids dropped and she
i,lgeted with her ring.
Lottie, what troubles your said
Raymond Ives, putting his arms around
her.
Lottie's answer was fool of tears
and taking her ring from her finger, she
said between her sobs:
Here is your ring. Raymond. don't
want to marry a man who cares nothing
for me'
II care nothing for you. Lottie Why,
what put that foolish notion into your
head ?''
Last night you were making love to
Clara Lewis and Miss Powers sobbed
Lottie
''Oh, didn't think you took any no.
tice Of that. 1t was what you call little
harmless Irritation. You know how you
fiirt sometimes, Lottie."
Yes Lottie knew she did, and she
looked at the roses on the carpet and
wondered if Raymond ever felt as mis-
cradle when she was flirting as she did
now.
Raymond, think it wrong to fiirt,
said Lottie, without looking up.
Since when ?" Raymond was going TO
say, hat trying hard to repress smile,
he said instead: